Abstract:
Background: The Kagera region, in north western Tanzania, is endowed with a strong culture of
traditional medicine that is well supported by a rich diversity of medicinal plants. However, most
of the plants in this region have not been documented nor evaluated for safety and efficacy. As an
initiative in that direction, this study documented the knowledge on medicinal plant use by
traditional healers of Bugabo Ward in Bukoba District.
Methods: Key informants were selected with the help of local government officials and
information on their knowledge and use of plants for therapeutic purposes was gathered using a
semi-structured interview format.
Results: In this study 94 plant species representing 84 genera and 43 families were found to be
commonly used in the treatment of a variety of human ailments. The family Asteraceae had the
highest number of species being used as traditional medicines. The study revealed that Malaria is
treated using the highest number of different medicinal species (30), followed by skin conditions
(19), maternal illnesses and sexually transmitted diseases (14), respiratory diseases (11) and yellow
fever, Herpes simplex and peptic ulcers (10). Majority of the species are used to treat less than five
different diseases/conditions each and leaves were the most commonly used part, comprising 40%
of all the reports on use of plant parts. Trees comprised the most dominant growth form among
all plants used for medicinal purposes in the study area.
Conclusion: Bugabo Ward has a rich repository of medicinal plants and this reinforces the need
for an extensive and comprehensive documentation of medicinal plants in the area and a
concomitant evaluation of their biological activity as a basis for developing future medicines.
